First, honesty. I don’t play PvP. Not here or anywhere. But I do like to wonder and think.
Second, I get the feeling this is a Conan themed game about domination.
Here’s my suggestion. Limit a character’s max clan size by their level. (Caveat: sorcerers immediately go solo.)
Questionable reasoning for suggestion is…
Your game isn’t really a PvP game. It has the option to have players fight, kill and plunder other players but still not a PvP game.
It’s a domination game. Survive, build, dominate. Isn’t that the slogan.
PvE is simple to understand for this game. Dominate the bosses, get the items, and escape. Or chill and build a nice place to live. Simple, easy.
Stepping from PvE to PvE-C and then to PvP (which probably should be renamed PvE-C infinity) would be adding a layer of additional bosses to that PvE game. Other players.
Not sure you’ve done that. Are other players at any point in the way of escaping? Honest question, not a PvP player. I’m assuming no.
Why not make them (rhetorical). Make necessary items for escape: one of a kind. Those who would have gotten it now only get to know who actually has it. Make max clan size diminish as levels are gained. Make it so only one player is getting out alive and then items reset. Race back through the bosses.
All the while clan members have to decide who’s going who’s leaving because of the diminishing clan size. Maybe steal from your clan, kill your clan and keep everything. Killing a fellow clan member should be an auto kick to the curb.
Limited resources, raids, treachery, power plays. Not knowing who has what or who intends to do what. By the Gods I’m smiling.
Oh, for those PvP players who don’t want to escape. Well, build a nice home to live in. And maybe throw a wrench in other people’s plans from time to time. I didn’t suggest those necessary items couldn’t be traded. Heavy coin purses anyone?
Simple. Easy.